4 best wireless router for macs

Wireless routers for Macs are essential networking devices that allow Mac users to connect their Apple devices to the internet wirelessly. These routers are designed to work seamlessly with Mac computers, iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices, ensuring a reliable and efficient internet connection. Here are some key points to consider when choosing a wireless router for Macs:

Compatibility: When selecting a wireless router for Macs, ensure it supports the latest Wi-Fi standards such as 802.11ac or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). Mac devices are equipped with modern Wi-Fi adapters, so a router with these standards will provide faster and more stable connections.
Apple Ecosystem Integration: Some routers are designed specifically to integrate seamlessly with Apple's ecosystem. These routers may offer features like AirPlay, Time Machine backup support, and HomeKit compatibility, making them a great choice for Mac users.
Dual-Band or Tri-Band: Look for routers that offer dual-band or tri-band support. Dual-band routers operate on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands, providing flexibility for different devices and reducing interference. Tri-band routers add an additional 5GHz band for even better performance in crowded environments.
Security Features: Ensure that the router has robust security features, such as WPA3 encryption and firewall protection, to keep your Macs and other devices safe from online threats.
Range and Coverage: Consider the size of your home or office when choosing a router. If you have a large space, look for routers with strong signal coverage and multiple antennas to ensure that all your Mac devices receive a reliable signal.
MU-MIMO and Beamforming: These technologies enhance the router's ability to provide a stable connection to multiple devices simultaneously. MU-MIMO allows the router to communicate with multiple devices at once, while beamforming focuses the signal towards connected devices for improved performance.
Quality of Service (QoS): QoS settings allow you to prioritize certain types of network traffic, ensuring that your Macs' internet activities, such as streaming and online gaming, get sufficient bandwidth for a lag-free experience.
User-Friendly Interface: Opt for a router with an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to configure and manage network settings.
Guest Network: A guest network feature allows you to create a separate network for visitors, keeping your main network secure.
Firmware Updates: Regular firmware updates are crucial to maintaining security and improving performance. Choose a router from a reputable manufacturer that provides consistent updates.

Popular wireless routers for Macs include the Apple AirPort Extreme (though Apple has discontinued its router products), the Netgear Nighthawk series, the Linksys Velop, and the ASUS RT-AX series. Be sure to research and compare options to find the one that best suits your needs and budget while ensuring compatibility with your Mac devices.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best wireless router for macs on the market

TP-Link AC1750 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A7) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router for Home, Works with Alexa, VPN Server, Parental Control and QoS

TP-Link

Based on 39 reviews Check latest price

Product description

AC1750 wifi router/wireless router. One of routers for wireless internet, wireless routers for home. Dual band router and gigabit router. Ideal as internet router also gaming router. Long range coverage with high speed. Compatible with all 802.11ac devices and below. 5ghz router/5g router Frequency Range: 2.4GHz and 5GHz; Interface Available: 4 x 10/100/1000Mbps LAN Ports, 1 10/100/1000Mbps WAN Port, 1 USB 2.0 Ports; Protocols Supported: Supports IPv4 and IPv6; System Requirement: Microsoft Windows 98SE NT 2000 XP Vista, or Windows 7 Windows 8/8.1/10, MAC OS NetWare UNIX or Linux; Wireless Standards: IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz.

JD Power Award ---Highest in customer satisfaction for wireless routers 2017 and 2019
Router for wireless internet, works with Alexa, compatible with all Wi-Fi devices, 802.11ac and older
Dual band router upgrades to 1750 Mbps high speed internet(450mbps for 2.4GHz, 1300Mbps for 5GHz), reducing buffering and ideal for 4K streaming
3 external antennas for long range Wi-Fi
Gigabit Router with 4 Gigabit LAN ports, fast access to multiple connected wired devices, Ideal as a gaming router
Integrated USB port acts as a media Server, easily share your USB drive content
TP-Link tether app easily set up and remotely manage your home network
Industry leading 2 year and Free 24-7 technical Support

Product features

The WiFi Router That Fits Most Families

With more devices in homes today, you need a solid router to keep up with WiFi demands. AC1750 routers pack the speed and range most families need at an affordable pric e. The Archer A7 provides the best value for your dollar, delivering the perfect mix of performance and features for most homes.

NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart Wi-Fi Router, R6700 - AC1750 Wireless Speed Up to 1750 Mbps | Up to 1500 Sq Ft Coverage & 25 Devices | 4 x 1G Ethernet and 1 x 3.0 USB Ports | Armor Security

NETGEAR

Based on 68 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1750 Smart Wi-Fi Router delivers extreme Wi-Fi speed for gaming up to 1750Mbps. The Dual Core 1GHz processor boosts wireless & wired performance. High-powered amplifiers and external antennas increase range for whole-home mobility, while Beamforming+ boosts speed for mobile devices, up to 100% faster.

Recommended for up to 25 devices: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices
Wired Ethernet ports: Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 1 gigabit Ethernet ports
Loaded with advanced technology: Designed with a 1GHz dual core processor, 3 amplified antennas, Beamforming plus, Dynamic QoS, Smart Connect, and more
USB connections: Share a storage drive or printer with any connected device or create a personal cloud storage to access from anywhere, using the 1 x 3.0 USB port
Safe & secure: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest Wi-Fi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more.
Netgear Armor protects your network and connected devices from Internet threats; Get peace of mind knowing you have the best in class anti virus, anti malware, and data protection for all your smart devices, smartphones, and computers with a 30 day free trial
Safe & secure: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest Wi-Fi access, DOS, Firewall, VPN, and more. System requirements: Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, or Linux. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, Firefox 2.0, Safari 1.4, or Google Chrome 11.0 browsers or higher

Product features

Better Wi-Fi? We’ve got you covered.

Up to 1,500 sq. ft of powerful WiFi coverage

Easily upgrade your Wi-Fi experience and coverage with the Nighthawk R6700. Range-boosting Beamforming+ antennas and Dual Band streaming deliver fast, reliable Wi-Fi to every corner of your home.

Built for Serious Streaming

Up to 1750Mbps wireless speed for demanding activities like HD streaming and online gaming.

Seamless WiFi for up to 25 Devices

Intelligently selects between dual bands to minimize interference and maximize speed for your many smart wireless devices.

NETGEAR Armor: Powered by BitDefender

The world’s leading cybersecurity software protects all your home devices from virus, malware, and data theft with a 30-day free trial.

Circle Smart Parental Control

The Circle App lets you easily manage internet content access and device screen time. Use the app to set usage time limits, device schedules, filter websites and more for every connected device in your home.

Easy 5-Minute Setup with App

The Nighthawk App makes it a snap to set up your router. Just connect your internet Ethernet cable to the router and the app will walk you through simple setup steps. Connect your devices to the network and you’re done.

Four High-Speed 1G Wired Connections

Gigabit Ports give you fast wired connections to your computer, game box and other devices. One USB port lets you share a storage drive or printer across your network.

TP-Link AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Archer A9) - High Speed MU-MIMO Wireless Router, Dual Band, Gigabit, VPN Server, Beamforming, Smart Connect, Works with Alexa, Black

TP-Link

Based on 9 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Maximum wireless transmission rates are the physical rates derived from IEEE standard 802. 11 Specifications. Range and coverage specifications along with the number of connected devices were defined according to test results under normal usage conditions. Actual wireless transmission rate, wireless coverage, and number of connected devices are not, and will vary as a result of 1) environmental factors, including building materials, physical objects and obstacles, 2) network conditions, including local interference, volume and density of traffic, product location, network complexity, and network overhead and 3) client limitations, including rated performance, location, connection quality, and client condition.

JD Power Award ---Highest in customer satisfaction for wireless routers 2017 and 2019
Wave 2 Wireless Internet Router, 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band, Works with Amazon Alexa
MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, Three simultaneous data streams help your devices achieve optimal performance by making communication more efficient
Boosted Wi-Fi Coverage, Beamforming technology delivers a highly efficient wireless connection, Long Range Wi-Fi
Beyond security, Archer A9 goes beyond traditional network security to provide features such as parental Control, guest wifi, access Control,WPA3 and a VPN Server
Smart Connect technology directs clients to less congested bands and Airtime Fairness optimizes usage, lag-free online gaming and streaming
TP-Link tether app - easily set up and manage your home network at home or remotely
Industry leading 2 year Warranty and 24/7 technical support

User questions & answers

Question:	Is this easy to set up for someone who isn’t tech savvy? Needed only for doorbell camera for grandparents who don’t have a computer
Answer:	The security gateway is intended to integrate with the UniFi platform and the integration is solid but still a little limited feature wise still. Administration of the gateway is literally done through UniFi; you don't really access the gateway directly. The EdgeRouters are their own standalone platform, development and web based options are farther along but no UniFi development. If you have a heavily Ubiquiti based network and want everything talking to each other, the security gateway is better. If you want to treat your router as a router and nothing more, the EdgeRouter line makes more sense.
Question:	Which is the better buy: tp-link ac1900 or ac2600 - and why? (i'm not real hip to routers
Answer:	The ability to use the VoIP port as a second WAN has been added to the latest controller software. The feature itself is currently in beta but seems to work in limited testing
Question:	How does this archer a9 differ from the archer c
Answer:	Yes, you can set it up in bridge mode.
Question:	What is the coverage range
Answer:	I use an Edgerouter (ER-POE5). I also use some products out of the Unifi line, like the Unifi Access Points with the Unifi Controller software installed on a Raspberry Pi. I don't specifically use the Unifi Security Gateway. I would say the main difference though is the way you manage the product. My EdgeRouter is more or less "standalone managed". It has a console port you can connect to, or you can manage it via the built in web interface, or you can SSH into it and use the CLI. Honestly, I really like the EdgeRouter because it does everything I need it to do very easily. It is capable of higher traffic volumes than this security gateway (my model does 2+ million packets per second), and it has great features like DHCP, a built in firewall, QOS, DNS, etc. It's relatively straightforward to figure it out. But it doesn't integrate into the "Unifi Controller" for centralized management. And that's really the big sell when it comes to the Unifi Security Gateway. You can install a single controller, and use that to manage all your Unifi devices. I have that installed to manage two access points. It may be a bit overkill for that. But, if you are at a school with a bunch of access points and switches (Unifi switches can also be managed through controller), then then Unifi Security Gateway might be nice if you want just a "single pane of glass". I would just look through the feature list carefully for the USG, and if it has the features you need, and if you are going to be buying all your switches and APs from the Unifi line also, then go for it as it may simplify your life. If this is going to be your only Ubiquiti product, then I probably recommend a standalone EdgeRouter that you manage directly.

Product features

Ultra-Fast Wave 2 AC WiFi

Transform your network with Wave 2 AC WiFi. Experience blazing fast combined dual band speeds up to 1.9 Gbps*. Wave 2 WiFi comes with MU-MIMO, Beamforming, Smart Connect, and Airtime Fairness so you can experience silky smooth 4K streaming and gaming simultaneously.

NETGEAR WiFi Router (R6080) - AC1000 Dual Band Wireless Speed (up to 1000 Mbps) | Up to 1000 sq ft Coverage & 15 devices | 4 x 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports

NETGEAR

Based on 10 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The NETGEAR AC1000 Dual Band WiFi Router delivers WiFi speeds up to 300Plus700Mbps. It allows you to upgrade your WiFi to support new AC devices. Nighthawk app lets you easily set up your router and get the most out of your WiFi. This router is ideal for medium to large homes.

FAST WiFi PERFORMANCE: Get up to 1000 sq ft wireless coverage with AC1000 speed (Dual band up to 300 + 700 Mbps)
RECOMMENDED FOR UP TO 15 DEVICES: Reliably stream videos, play games, surf the internet, and connect smart home devices.
WIRED ETHERNET PORTS: Plug in computers, game consoles, streaming players, and other nearby wired devices with 4 x 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports.
SMART PARENTAL CONTROLS: The Nighthawk app lets you manage device internet access and filter websites.
SAFE & SECURE: Supports WPA2 wireless security protocols. Includes Guest WiFi access, DoS, Firewall, VPN, and more.

User questions & answers

Question:	I recently upgraded to Verizon gigabit and the modem router they give is lackluster. Does this just connect via Ethernet to the modem
Answer:	Yes. Connect the R7800 to the FiOS router (they don't use modems) by attaching an ethernet cable to one of the FiOS router's LAN ports, and the other end to any of the ports on the R7800. Then set up the R7800 in AP mode, and disable the Wifi of the FiOS router (not critical, but neater). The FiOS router will assign all the IP addresses, and the R7800 will provide wireless services. Works like a charm. You can use the LAN ports of both the FiOS router and the R7800 for wired connections.
Question:	Is this device able to plug and play via ethernet cable from my cable modem to extend my cable wifi range
Answer:	Yes. All of these Netgear routers can either be used as range extenders OR wired into becoming the primary internet source for your home. The latter is actually recommended, if your cable modem is basic and/or sends a weaker than warranted WiFi signal.
Question:	what are the two bands
Answer:	2.4 and 5
Question:	I have 150mbps service will this router give me that if I do a speed text
Answer:	I don't own this router, but I'd agree with Apollo Grace. Anything that's going to be using this ethernet port will be bottlenecked at 100Mbit maximum. If you're just using this for WiFi only or if you don't mind a maximum speed of 100Mbit on the ethernet port, then buy it. But there are similar products out there for the same price range with Gigabit ports allowing the full WiFi speed to go through the ethernet ports. https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AC1200-Smart-WiFi-Router/dp/B01IUDUJE0 (TP-Link Archer C1200) for example, and it's cheaper.

Product features

Better WiFi? We’ve got you covered.

Up to 1,000 sq. ft of WiFi coverage

Easily upgrade your WiFi experience and coverage with the Nighthawk R6080. High-powered antennas and Dual Band streaming deliver fast, reliable WiFi to every corner of your home.

Built for Fast Streaming

Up to 1000Mbps wireless speed for demanding activities like HD streaming and gaming.

Seamless WiFi for up to 15 Devices

Intelligently selects between dual bands to minimize interference and maximize speed for your many smart wireless devices.

Secure WiFi Connections

Rest easy knowing your network is protected with high-level WPA/WPA2 wireless security, firewall protection, and the ability to create a Guest Network separate from your home network and private information.